News & Reviews News Wire Indiana Senate to consider rail passenger bill

Indiana Senate to consider rail passenger bill

By Trains Staff | January 18, 2022

| Last updated on March 30, 2024


Legislation seeks to create committee to pursue increase in passenger service

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Passenger train arrives at station where people are waiting
Crawfordsville, Ind., townspeople greet the last northbound Hoosier State on June 30, 2019. The Indiana Senate is set to consider a bill focused on increasing passenger rail operations in the state. Bob Johnston

INDIANAPOLIS — A bill seeking to create a commission to explore increased passenger rail operations in Indiana will be heard in the state Senate this week, WXIN-TV reports.

Senate Bill 13 would create a commission including representatives from the Indiana Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Adminstration, state General Assembly, and rail advocacy organizations. It would look for ways to expand the state rail system and ensure the state uses available federal funding to increase passenger service.

Scott Manning, deputy chief of staff for INDOT, told the station the timing of the bill is important, “given the passage of the federal infrastructure bill late last year, which does include increased federal funding for passenger rail.”

The bill passed out of committee on a 5-3 vote.

8 thoughts on “Indiana Senate to consider rail passenger bill

  1. Look at the photo. The asphaltic platform is well below the level of the rail height. Was this a fourth-world passenger service? At the time of the photo, we were decades into Amtrak but couldn’t build a proper passenger platform.

    1. Installing an ADA compliant platform would be an Amtrak condition to begin operating the service; thus allowing Amtrak to use their ADA funds elsewhere.

  2. Unless they first invest in the route (or maybe arrange to use another more direct reroute), it will be to slow and not attract enough passengers. Flying will continue to much more convenient.

  3. Guessing the regular BS will be said and nothing happens, Indiana Senate will shot themselves in the foot again.

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